Smooth jazz, smooth food and smooth wine

Smooth jazz and smooth wine are the perfect pairing

Although I was not at the 17^th Annual Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival held at Esther Short Park over the weekend, I imagine it was a smashing success what with the perfect weather we had from Thur-Sun.

If you missed it, Dan Balmer and Mel Brown can be heard around town every week at different venues including Jimmy Maks which is a perfect spot in the Pearl to catch jazz musicians while enjoying some good food and smooth wine. Jazz pianist, Mark Simon, plays regularly at Vinotopia in Vancouver, Arrivederci in Milwaukie and the Camellia Lounge in Portland and the Bipartisan Café and No Ho’s Hawaiian Café in Portland host jazz bass player, Dave Friesen, routinely.

I would’ve particularly enjoyed Toshiko Akiyoshi. Her jazz piano sound has garnered her the prestigious Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Award which puts her in the ranks of the late Marian McPartland, a true jazz legend. And (I’m starting a sentence with ‘and’) Lee Ritenour was probably amazing. I love his work with the group, Four Play. He has a smooth guitar style that always sweeps my mind to our back patio with a luscious glass of Cab Sauv…even in the dead of winter.

I didn’t realize until this year that the Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival actually begins on Thursday night with Jazz Education Night, hosting some fantastic area jazz talent from our local high schools. I’ve been to the Clark College Jazz Festival which is held in January every year. We are blessed around here to have so many stellar up-and-coming musicians that will soon be playing in the same inviting clubs that the above artists currently frequent.

Yeah, you could say I’m a jazz fan. There is no better accompaniment to wine in my world than jazz music. It’s free form art that comes directly from the performer’s heart and to hear it live is even more magical.

Having said all that, what was I doing this past weekend? Well, writing for one but I had a couple ladies over for a long lunch on Saturday afternoon and, while listening to Divaville on the back patio, we enjoyed Salmon Pasta Salad and Cream of Zucchini Soup. Neither one of these ladies is able to drink for medical reasons but I had the ideal wine pairing for the Zucchini Soup in our cabinet that I wanted to pass along with the recipe for the soup.

Cream of Zucchini Soup matches nicely with Mt Defiance Wine’s Hellfire White with the melon flavor and hint of spice in the finish

Hellfire White Wine from the Columbia Gorge (Battle Ground Produce, 13.1% alcohol, $11.99) comes from Mt. Defiance Wine Company which, apparently, is an off-shoot of Phelps Creek Vineyards in Hood River. Phelps Creek tends toward sweeter whites (at least the ones I’ve tasted) so it wasn’t surprising that this white wine was on the sweeter side but it had a nice melon flavor with a pleasant spice in the finish. It would compliment the smooth, fresh flavor of the garden zucchini in the soup and, with a little more cracked pepper in the soup, the spice finish would be a great partner, as well.

I’d also feel comfortable serving it with the Salmon Pasta Salad. Salmon has a sweeter flavor, a fatty feel to it that would be a nice round mouth feel with the melon in the Hellfire White. Of course the fresher the salmon, the more this pairing would make sense.

This time of year, if you’re tending a garden, any recipe that calls for zucchini is welcome and both of these recipes call for some. The Soup uses light cream but I always substitute 12 ounces of soft tofu in any ‘cream’ soup. Even if you’re not vegetarian (and I eat some cheeses and take cream with my coffee), tofu is healthier than cream and, pureed in a blender, no one can tell the difference. I promise you. Both of the gals I had over were so surprised and then wanted the recipe so they could duplicate it at home. With how light the soup is, it’s still pleasant to serve with a cold salad on a warm summer day.

Cream of Zucchini Soup

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp butter –or- 3 Tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, roughly chopped

2 lb zucchini, trimmed and sliced

1 tsp dried oregano

2 ½ C vegetable stock

1 ¼ C light cream – or 12 oz soft tofu

Salt & freshly ground black pepper

Heat the oil & butter in a large saucepan until foaming. Add the onion & cook gently for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened but not brown. Add the zucchini & oregano with salt & pepper to taste. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour in the stock & bring to a boil, stirring. Lower the heat, half-cover the pan & simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes. Process the soup in a blender or food processor (with soft tofu) until smooth. Return to clean pan. Add two-thirds of the cream (if using) and stir over low heat until hot but not boiling. Add more stock or water if the soup is too thick. Season with salt & pepper. Pour into bowns. Swirl in the remaining cream (if using). Serves 4-6.

Adapted from Vegetarian by Linda Fraser

Salmon and Pasta Salad

With temperatures staying consistently at 80 degrees and above for the next several days, I think a cold pasta salad is in order. There are so many to choose from but it really comes down to the flavors in the dressing.

What I like about the one below is that it calls for Dijon mustard. I had extra Mustard-Crusted Salmon from the blog I posted on July 28^th so I just cut that into small pieces, tossed it in with my pasta and left out the Dijon mustard in the dressing of this dish. A great way to use leftovers if you’re thinking ahead. I’d love to impress you by saying I planned it that way but I didn’t. Another serendipitous moment brought to you by Life.

I also like the fact that is calls for zucchini since it’s growing season and we have that in our garden. Unfortunately, the critter that’s chomping on our zucchini is really giving me a run for my money and I am harvesting less than it is. My husband thinks it’s a raccoon. How does something that big get around a six foot fence? I’m in awe but no less annoyed.

Wine suggestion: Chardonnay. Because of the fat feel of salmon, a lightly oaked Chardonnay with a hint of butter is a perfect choice. That’s not to say that salmon is fattening but that it is rich in texture. When I think of a good Chardonnay pairing foods like salmon, risotto, crab, chowder, and cream-based pastas come to mind because they have a richness about them that is delicately complimented by a quality Chard. I’ve stressed in the past that Chardonnay is not a favorite varietal of mine because it tends to be over manipulated resulting in too much oak or butter for my tastes. So, my go-to Chardonnay is Simi Winery’s Sonoma County Chardonnay.

Salmon and Pasta Salad

Salmon and Pasta Salad

2 C cooked pasta twists

1 lb salmon, cooked

1 C thinly sliced zucchini

½ C thinly sliced celery

½ C olive oil

2 tsp Dijon mustard    *I always add more of this. It’s great with salmon.

2 Tbsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp garlic powder

green leaf lettuce to garnish

In a medium-sized bowl, combine pasta, salmon, zucchini and celery. In a small bowl combine the olive oil, lemon juice, mustard and garlic powder; mix until smooth. Pour dressing over the salad; toss to blend. Cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight. To serve, arrange salad on lettuce. Makes 8 servings.

*Once again, because I’ve been making this recipe since 1986, I am unable to site the author so just let it be known that this is not a recipe I created.